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Opsaridium tweddleorum Skelton, 1996 dwarf sanjika |
| Family: | Danionidae (Danios), subfamily: Chedrinae | |||
| Max. size: | 11 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; freshwater | |||
| Distribution: | Africa: western affluent perennial rivers of Lake Malawi and tributaries of Shire River, lower Zambezi (Ref. 26673, 52193). | |||
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 16-16. Description: Body fusiform (Ref. 52193). Head pointed, with large terminal mouth; lower jaw extends to below mid-orbit (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 2 unbranched and 8-9 branched rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 13 branched rays; dorsal fin nearer base of caudal fin than tip of snout, dorsal fin origin behind pelvic fins, before anal fin; caudal fin forked; anal fin with anterior rays extended (Ref. 52193). Scales in lateral line 45-49, 16-17 around caudal peduncle; lateral line dips to lower half of body (Ref. 52193). Colouration: Pale bluish grey with 11-13 darker upright bars along body; dorsal fin with a distinct black band arching from leading edge to lower hind corner (Ref. 52193). Males have prominent tubercles on head and fins (Ref. 52193). |
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| Biology: | Found in swift-flowing streams in rocky reaches over clean sand (Ref. 52193).; prefers clear, fast flowing waters (Ref. 26673). It feeds on insects and other invertebrates in the drift (Ref. 52193). Breeds in summer (Ref. 52193). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 21 May 2018 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||